Here’s the summary so far: You could spend all your life on social media. If you are going to do that, make it count.

And the follow up message seems to be: There are a thousand different social media platforms out there. Use them all. (In fact, Cath just pointed us to a website called “Social Sprout” – which bills itself as a “social media management platform”. A platform for all your platforms.)

As many of you faithful followers who are still out there know, I’ve been at this blogging thing for almost 7 years. But I am still struggling to learn how to use Facebook (a lack of enthusiasm for this endeavour – upon which I am told my future prosperity depends – is admittedly a bit of an impediment), and only just learning to use Twitter.

My daughter uses Tumblr. Which yesterday James Bergin called “The Wild West of Social Media”. Thanks James. That’s where my daughter spends all her time…

I sense that most of you still reading this are fairly comfortable on the blogging platform. It’s great for writing on ideas and issues at length, and then exploring those ideas and issues in depth with the others around the commentary table (who’s got the port bottle?). Like me, you feel a little threatened by the proliferation of alternative electronic communications platforms. They’re too flashy, too faddy, too fast. We like slow.

I have the Feedly app on my devices, and I love following other blogs and news sites. It is like my own private newspaper every morning. I don’t have to “like” what I read, and I don’t have to broadcast to the whole world what I read this morning. But a co-worker recently told me that they they get all their news on Twitter. ????. Really. Feed-readers are so last year.

Anyway, I could go on. What I am feeling, among all these geeks (like Fr Roderick) and savvy young things (like Cath Toomey) around me, is that I am really a bit of a dinosaur (and that makes this ‘ere blog the prehistoric zone – something from the last decade). If I can’t even keep up with my blogging, what hope do I have on any other media?

About Schütz

I am Catholic, married to Cathy, father of Maddy & Mia. Since 2002, I have been the Executive Officer of the Ecumenical & Interfaith Commission of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. I was once a Lutheran pastor, but a "year of grace" and soul-searching led me into the Catholic Church. It was a bumpy ride, but with the support of my (still Lutheran) wife, I was finally confirmed on June 16, 2003.

Disclaimer

All opinions on this page expressed by the blog owner are those of the blog owner alone, and are in no way to be taken as the opinions of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne or its agencies.

Any opinion on this page expressed by a visiting commentator is the opinion of that commentator alone and is in no way to be taken as the opinion of the blog owner.

I hope that is clear enough for everyone?

About This Blog

SCE is a blog in "the Spirit of Benny 16". It is a place to discuss Catholic Theology, Ecumenism, Interfaith relations, History, Liturgy, Philosophy and whatever topics are hot in the ecclesiastical world!

I view the combox as the most important feature of this site, and I imagine our commentators sharing a glass of after dinner port as we discuss in a gentlemanly/ladylike manner the issues most dear to us.

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Anima Education

The Schütz Model for a Elective Australian Constitutional Monarchy

I propose that
1) We replace the absentee monarch of Australia (who is also the Monarch of Great Britain) with an elected Australian monarchy.
2) The elected monarch exactly replaces the current monarch in the current constition.
3) The elected monarch has exactly the same powers, duties and responsibilities as those of the current absentee monarch. All the monarch's functions are carried out by his/her personal representatives (as is currently the case): federally by the Governor General, and in the states by the State Governors.
4) The Governor General and the Governors continue to be selected and appointed as they currently are, that is, by the premier with the approval of the monarch.
5) The monarch is elected to sovereignty over Australia for life, but his/her sovereignty is strictly non-hereditary.
6) The elective body is the "college of electors" comprised of the state governors and federal governor general.
7) The election of the monarch must be a unanimous decision on the part of the college of electors.

"The fervant Romanists have always this point in their favour: that they are ready to believe. And they have a desire for the conversion of men which is honest in exactly inverse ration to the dishonesty of the means which they employ to produce it."-- Anthony Trollope, "The Way We Live Now"

J.G. Schütz Family Arms

"The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head."-- Terry Pratchet, Hogfather, page 242

"I really don't think I'm arrogant, but I do get impatient with people who don't share with me the same humility in front of the facts."--Richard Dawkins